Hood latch



June 9, 1931.

N. A. MEARS ET AL HOOD LATCH Filed May 10, 1929 v5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i X w1 y 3% W. fi j lw g M j wmk wi 2 ha June 9', 1931. N. A. MEARS ET AL 1,

HOOD LATCH Filed May 10, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fz wezz fans 7707232?MZJQQ'AS June 9, 1931. N. A. ME RS ET AL HOOD LATCH Filed May 10, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 3 J25)? 1. @fiw 49 M Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE NORTON A. HEARS AND DIBRELL P. HYNES, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGN ORB TO CHIQAGO FOBGI'NG A. MANUFACTURING CO OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01' IIl-INOIS HOOD LATCH Application filed Kay10, 1929. Serial No. 381,983.

Our invention relates to locking or latching means for closures and isherein shown as applied to an automobile hood. One purpose is theprovision of simple and easily operated means for securing an automobilehood in closed position. Another objectisthe provision of means fordrawing the hood downwardly and inwardly against its abutment on theframe of the automobile. Another object is the provision of means forpermitting the actuation of a plurality of hood latching means by asingle handle adapted both to latch and unlatch the hood 'and'to raiseand lower the hood. Other objects will appear from time to time in thecourse of the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, where1n Figure 1 is a side elevation;

' Figure 2 is an interior elevation;

Figure 3 isa section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of 5 Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an interior view of a variant form;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fi re6;

igure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 with the parts in a differentposition; v

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9+9 of Figure 8; v

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a view of a variant form of the device; and

4p Figure 12 is a section on the line 1212 of Figure 11.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring first to Figures 1 and following, A generally indicates thebody of the vehicle, and A a hinged hood member. A indicates the vehicleframe, and A. a hood abutment secured thereto. A A indicate terminalabutments for the ends of the hood. 5o Mounted within the hood is a rockshaft generally indicated as B havin the terminal oflset portions orcranks 13 1 adapted to engage 'locking abutments B B herein shown asmounted on the. members A, havmg the faces B inclined upwardly andinwardly fromthe hood. B indicates a rolefitlon at the upper end of eachsuch ace.

e rockshaft may be mounted as on a plurality of terminal bearing membersB- and a plurality of adjacent central bearing members B. Between thecentral members the rock shaft is indicated as ofiset or deformed as atB.

C indicates a shaft with the exterior handle C the shaft passing throughthe head. At its inner end is mounted the crank member generallyindicated as C with the pin C projecting therefrom, such pin beingadapted for engagement with the offset portiomB" of the rock shaft B.When the offset portion is in the position in which it is shownin-Figures 1, 2 and 3 the crank arms B are in looking en agement withthe inclined faces 13 oft e abutments B. A

clockwise rotation of the crank C and in pm. I

It will be seen from Figures 1, 2 and 3 that a clockwise rotation of thecrank arm 0 will rotate the offset portion B and thusthe rock shaft Band withdraw the cranks B fromv contact with the abutments B On theother hand a counter-clockwise rotation, from the lower position, willdirectly engage the crank pin 0 and the offset portion B and. positivelycause a locking rotation of the rock shaft B. Y

Preferably we maintain the elongate han dle C in horizontal position ateach end of its excursion or rotation. It is particularly important tohave it in horizontal position when the hood is unlatched, in order thatit may provide a ready support for lifting the hood. However, we preferto limit its movement to an arc of about 180 degrees. As limiting meanswe may associate with the crank arm C the channel member D with itslongitudinal flanges D It rotates as a unit with the crank C but extendsoutwardly therebeyond. At the limit of the locking excursion it engagesthe limit stop D and at the limit of the unlocking excursion it engagesthe limit stop D In order to prevent cooking or displacement of the axisof the shaft C in response to torsion of the rock shaft B, as the cranksB engage the abutments we provide the flange or holder D with theoutwardly inclined or curved corner or edge D. It will be observed fromFigures 2 and 3 that when the crank arm C is moved into locking positionthe channel D passes beneath the inclined edge D of the member D and isheld by the member I)" in such fashion as to prevent any angular changein relationship of the axis of the crank arm'and handle. They aremaintained at perpendicularity to the general plane of the face of thehood. In order to hold the device in locked position we may employopposed indentations and projections on the flange D and the channel Dwhich are shown in Figure as D and D.

In the form of the device shown in Figures 1 and following we may employa unit base generally indicated as E. In such case the rock shaft may bepivoted in bearings 13 upset from the base E. The stop abutments D and Dmay also be upset from it and the flange D may be upset from it. Thewhole may be made as a single unit although we do not wish to be limitedspecifically to such structure, except as and where we so limitourselves in our claims.

Referring to Figure 6 the unit base E is omitted and the bearings B areshown as secured directly to the inner face of the hood A There is alsoprovided an additional abutment G secured to the frame of the vehicle asby the bracket G This abutment is engaged by an extension G from thecrank shaft G the crank shaft being otherwise equivalent to the crankshaft C of the earlier form. This member G has the double function ofpreventing cocking, the function performed by the channel D and oflimiting outward movement of the bottom of the hood away from theabutment A In order to limit the rotation of the crank arm we providethe stop G which is engaged by the offset portion G of the member (iwhen the device is in locking'position and which is engaged by the crankpin C or by the member C, as shownin Figure 8, when the device is in theunlocking position. In order to maintain the device in locked positionwe may also provide any suitable projection G which has to some extent aspring locking effect, and which tends to prevent unintendeddisplacement of the parts, as by vibration caused by the movement of thevehicle.

In the form of Figures 11 and 12 we illustrate a form of the device inwhich a double crank is employed. The arm H indicates a supportingelement or abutment into which is trunnioned the pin H of the crank armH The opposite crank arm H is secured to the shaft G of the handle 0 andthe two crank arms are connected by the crank pin C with its holdingmember G, as in the form of Figures 1 and following. The crank arm H isextended as at H to engage the anticlocking flange H It will be realizedthat whereas we have described and shown a practical and operativedevice, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape,number and disposition of part without departing from the spirit of ourinvention. We therefore wish our drawings and description to be taken asin a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limitingus to our specific showing.

The use and operation of our invention are as follows:

In securing the hinged hood portions-of automobiles and plates, securingmeans are desirable which hold the hood firmly in osition, which drawthe lower edge of the 00d downwardly, to hold it tight, and which alsodraw it inwardly or prevent it from outward movement. We have providedmeans for effecting these results which are simple and efficient andwhich respond to the movement of a single handle member. This handlemember, being preferably situated midway between the ends of the hood,not only serves to control the hood latching means, but also serves as ahandle for lifting the hood when the latches are disengaged. Wepreferably employ a handle of somewhat elongated form, to serveconveniently as a lifting as well as a turning means. We preferably soproportion the parts that the handle C is in generally horizontalposition when the latch members 13 are disengaged. We find it convenientto limit the rotation of the handle to an arc of 180 degrees, wherebythe handle is also in horizontal position, when the hood is latched.

In order to provide simple means for latching the hood in position weemploy a rock shaft the ends of which may be bent or deformed to formcrank arms or the equivalent of crank arms. In other words some part ofthe rock shaft, preferably the ends is so far offset from the center ofrotation of the bod of the rock shaft, that rotation of the rock shaftimparts such movement to the end or ends as will cooperate with a latchabutment to have the desired locking effect.

Referring for example to Figure 5 or 6, we employ latch abutments B,which may be mounted on the members A? and which are provided withsurfaces or edges B'- upwardly and inwardly inclined. In response to alocking rotation of thehandle C the crank prevents undue strain on anypart of the device. It is necessary to make the edge B of sufiicientlength to engage the crank arms 3* throughout a reasonable ra c. Thisprovides for irregularities in 'mension and form of the various partsand also for irregularities in assembly of the parts. The

member B serves as an upper stop to prevent any possible overridingofthe crank arms B over the inclined edge In some circumstances it may bedesirable to employ additional means for limiting the outward movementof the-lower edge of the hood. In such case we may employ the additionalstop G which is opposed by the member G and its recurved portion G asshown for example in Figure 6, these forming part of the crank arm C.When the hood is in closed position and the handle C is rotated intolocking position the member G is moved into position to the rear of theabutment G and against the stop G This holds the central portion ofthelower edge of the hood against movement outwardly away from its abutmentand, taken in connection with the latching effect of the crank arms Bholds the hood firmly in place. The crank arms 13 draw downwardly andinwardly on the corners of the hood, the ends of thelower ed e of thehood, while outward movement of t e intermediate portion of the loweredge is prevented by the engagement of the members G and G We claim:

1. In combination with a latchin device for the hinged section of'anautomobile hood, which includes a rock shaft mounted on the inner faceof the hood, a plurality of latch abutments positioned within and spacedlaterally inwardly from the hood and crank members associated with therock shaft and adapted for locking engagement with the latch abutment inresponse to rotation of said shaft, means for rotating said rock shaft,including an offset portion intermediate the ends of the shaft, a stempivotally mounted on the hood, an exterior handle therefor, a crank armand crank pin associated with said stem, the pin being adapted tocontact the offset portion of the crank arm, and a securing member,pivoted to the pin, adapted to maintain operative engagement between theoffset portion and the in, the pin being adapted to rotate the 0 setportion in response torotation of the crank arm in one direction, thesecuring member being adapted to rotate the offset portion in responseto rotation of the drank arm in the opposite direction.

2. A latching device for the hinged section of an automobile hood, whichincludes a rock shaft mounted on the inner face of the hood, a.plurality of latch abutments positioned within and spaced laterallyinwardly from the hood, crank members associated with said rock shaftand adaptedto engage said abutments and means for rotating said rockshaft including an oifset portion intermediate the ends of said shaft, acontrol shaft pivotally mounted on the hood, an exterior andle therefor,a crank arm mounted on said control shaft and a crank pin on said crankarm, said pin being adapted to engage said ofi'set portion of the rockshaft, and means for preventing displacement of the control shaft fromits normal axis in response to torsional strain upon the rock shaft inresponse to locking engagement of the crank members with the latchabutments, including a flange adapted to engage and hold the crank armin its normal plane.

3. A latching device for an automobile hood, adapted to draw the lowered e of a double hinged hood closure downwar y and inwardly in rattlepreventing engagement with the opposed portions of the automobile, whichincludes a rock shaft mounted on the inner face of. the closure forrotation about a generally horizontal axis, cranks associated with saidrock shaft, cam members positioned within said closure for engagementwith said cranks, and means for rotating said cranks into camminglocking engagement with the cam members, said cranks being adapted, incooperation with said cam members, automatically to compensate forvariations in shape and position of parts affecting the contact betweencranks and cam members, and being adapted, in response to theirengagement with the cam members, to draw the lowor edge of the hoodclosure downwardly and inwardly against theopposed portions of theautomobile, said cranks engaging said cam members at all times, in allnormal adjustments, at a point intermediate the extension of the camportions of said cam members.

4. A latching device for an automobile hood, adapted to draw the loweredge of a double hinged hood closure downwardly and inwardly in rattlepreventing engagement with the opposed portions of the automobile, whichincludes a rock shaft mounted on the inner face of the closure forrotation about a generally horizontal axis, cranks associated iao ,double hinged hood closure downwar with said rock shaft, cam memberspositioned within said closure for engagement with said cranks, andmeans for rotating said cranks into camming locking engagement with thecam members, said cranks being adapted, in cooperation with said cammembers, automatically to compensate for variations in shape andposition of part affecting the corn tact between cranks and cam members,and being adapted, in response to their engagement with the cam members,to draw the lower edge of the hood closure downwardly and inwardlyagainst the opposed portions of the automobile, said cranks engagingsaidcam members at all times, in all normal adjustments, at a pointintermediate the extension of the cam portions of said cam members, themeans for rotating the rock shaft and cranks including a handle shaftrotat ably mounted on the closure, its axis of rotation beingsubstantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft,an exterior handle therefor, and an actuating connection between saidhandle shaft and the rock shaft, adapted to rotate the rock shaft inresponse to rotation of the handle, said actuating connection includinga crank on the handle shaft, a crank on the rock shaft, and means formaintaining them in actuating relationship.

5. A latching device for an automobile hood, adapted to draw the lowered e of a dly and inwardly in rattle preventing engagement with theopposed portions of the automobile, which includes a rock; shaft mountedon the inner face of the closure for rotation about a generallyhorizontal axis, cranks associated with said rock shaft, abutmentmembers positioned within said closure for engagement with said cranks,and means for rotating said cranks into camming locking engagement withthe abutment members, said cranks be ing adapted, in camming cooperationwith said abutment members, automatically to compensate for variationsin shape and position of perm affecting the contact between cranks andabutment members, and being adapted, in response to their engagementwith the abutment members, to draw the lower edge of the hood closuredownwardly and inwardly against the automobile, said cm s engaging saidabutment members at all times, in all normal adjustments. in a slidablerelationship.

6. A latching device for an automobile hood, adaptedto draw the loweredge of a double hinged closure downwardly and inwardly in rattlepreventing engagement with the opposed portions of the automobile, whichincludes a yieldingly torsionally distortable rock she-ft mounted on theinner face of the v. closure for rotation about a generally horizontalaxis, cranks associated with said. rock shaft, abutment'meinberspositioned within .tation of the shaofiposed portions of the n saidclosure for engagement with said cranks,

and means for rotating said shaft and cranks into camming lockingengagement with the abutment members, said cranks and shaft beingadapted, in cooperation with said abutment members, automatically tocompensate for variations in shape and position of parts .aifecting thecontact between cranks and inwardly against opposed portions of theautomobile, a rock shaft mounted on the inner face of the closure forrotation about a enorally horizontal axis, a base plate on w 'ch saidshaft is rotatably mounted, cranks associated with said rock shaft, cammembers, positioned within said closure, ada ted for variable contactengagement with sai cranks, said cranks bein adapted, in response toroit and their engagement with the cam members, to draw the lower edgeof the hood closure'downwardly and inwardly against the opposed portionsof the automobile, and means for rotating the rock shaft including ahandle shaft mounted upon said base plate for rotation about an axisgenerally at right angles to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, anexterior handle, and an with the opposed portions of the automobile,

which includes a rock shaft mounted .on the inner face of the closurefor rotation about a generally horizontal axis, cranks associatedwith'said rock shaft, cam members positioned within said closure forengagement with said cranks, means for rotating said cranks into.'cammmg locking engagement with the cam members, said cranks beinadapted, in coo eration with said cam members, automatically tocompensate for variations in shape and position of parts affecting thecontact between cranks and cam members, and being adapted, in responseto their engagement with the cam members to draw the lower edge of thehood closure downwardly and inwardly against I the opposed portions ofthe automobile, said cranks engaging said cam members at all times, inall normal adjustments, at a point iso intermediate the extension of thecam portions of said cam members, the means for rotating the rock shaftand cranks including a handle shaft rotatably mounted on the closure,its axis of rotation being substantially at right angles to the axis ofrotation of the rock shaft, an exterior handle therefor, an actuatingconnection between said handle shaft and the rock shaft, adapted torotate the rock shaft in response to rotation of the handle, and meansfor preventing cooking of the handle shaft in response to fiexure ortorsion of the rock shaft when in locking position. v

9., A latching device for an automobile hood, adapted to 'draw the loweredge of a double hinged hood closure downwardly and inwardly in rattlepreventing engagement with the opposed portions of the automobile, whichincludes a rock shaft mountedon the inner face of the closure forrotation about a generally horizontal axis, cranks associated with saidrock shaft, cam members positioned within said closure for engagementwith said cranks, and means for rotating said cranks into camminglocking engagement with the cam members, said cranks being adapted, incooperation with said cam members, automatically to compensate forvariations in shape and position of parts affecting the contact betweencranks and cam members, and being adapted, in response to theirengagement with the cam members, to draw the lower edge of the hoodclosure downwardly and inwardly against the opposed portions of theautomobile, said cranks engaging said cam members at all times, in allnormal adjustments, at a point intermediate the extension of the camportions of said cam members, the means for rotating the rock shaft andcranks including a handle shaft rotatably mounted on the closure, itsaxis of rotation being sub.- stantia'll -'at right angles to the axis ofrotation o the-rock shaft, an exterior handle therefor, an actuatingconnection between said handle shaft and the rock shaft, adapted torotate the rock shaft in response to rotation of the handle, and meansforlimitin the rotation of the handle shaft to an arc'o 180.

10. A latching device for the hinged secsaid hood, said handle and crankarm 'being shaft rotatably mounted on the inner face of.

the hood, and means for rotating said rock shaft, said means including ahandle exterior to said hood, a crank arm positioned within said hood,said handle and crank arm being rotatable about an axis generallyperpendicular to the face of the hood, a crank pin on said arm, the rockshaft having an ofiset portion in engagement with said crank arm'and aconnector upon said crank pin adapted to maintain said crank pin and theoffset portion ofisaid rock shaft in operative relationship, and meansadapted to engage the crank arm and to hold it against movement inresponse to torsion of the rock shaft.

12. A latching device for the hinged section of an automobile hood whichincludes a rock shaft rotatably mounted on the inner face of the hood,and means for rotating said rock shaft, said means including a handleexterior to said hood, a crank arm positioned within saidhood, saidhandle and crank arm being rotatable about an axis generallyperpendicular to the face of the hood, a crank pin on said" arm, therock shaft having an off- NORTON A. MEARS.

-DIBRELL P. HYNES.

State of Illinois, this 7th day of May, 1929;

rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the face of the hood,a crank pin on said am, the rock shaft having an offset ortion' inengagement with said crank arm an a connector upon said crank pinadapted to main- {381 11 said crank pin and the oifsetportion'of saidrock shaft in operative relationship.

11. A latching device for the hinged section of an automobile hood whichincludes a rock DISCLAIMER 1,809,720.-N01"t0n A. Mears and Dibrell P. Hy

Patent dated June 9, 1931. Disclaimer filed assignee, Chicago Forging c@Manufacturing Co. Hereby enters its disclaimer to claim 10. [Oflicz'alGazette October 15, 1935.]

ms, Chicago, Ill.

H001) LATCH. September 25, 1935, by the DISCLAIMER 1,809,720.N0rt0n A.Mears and Dibrell P. Hynes, Chicago, Ill. HOOD LATCH. Patent dated June9, 1931. Disclaimer filed April 29, 1935, by the assignee,

Chicago Forging d2- Manufacturing Co. Hereby enters its disclaimer toclaims 5, 6 and 7 of the said patent, No. 1,809,720, because the saidclaims are not by their language limited to such coaction between themembers designated the cam members and the cranks at the ends of therock I shaft as to cause the cranks to engage said cam members at alltimes in all normal adjustments at a point intermediate the extension ofthe cam portions of said cam members.

[Oficial Gazette May 28, 1935.]

